When I asked what inspired him to start a gratitude list, he said, “I realized I had a lot to be thankful for.”

We all have a lot to be thankful for. In the busyness of life, it’s easy to take for granted the many and priceless things most of us enjoy. Shelter, family, education, nutritious food and clean water can sometimes be taken for granted.

I’m learning to value every good thing in life, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. As I do, I hope my expressions of gratitude will rise. There is much to be thankful for.

Written by Justin Stephens. Edited by Andrei Duta. This note first appeared on Andrei’s LinkedIn profile.

The status quo is not good enough; normal will never do. You’re seeking to improve yourself and your surroundings. Like you, millions of people across the world are setting goals and have done so throughout generations and centuries.

A Brief History

At the beginning of the year, the ancient Romans made promises and gave gifts to their god Janus, the god of beginnings, from which the word “January” derives. Similarly, the Babylonians made promises to pay their debts and return borrowed items.

Making New Year’s resolutions took many forms but endured throughout the ages and across various cultures. It ultimately found its way into the modern world, including the U.S., where it has been growing in popularity within the last few decades.

Today 45 percent of Americans start New Year’s resolutions; however, a mere 8 percent ever finish them. As an example, the top ten most commonly broken resolutions, according to TIME, are the following:

1. Lose Weight and Get Fit

2. Quit Smoking

3. Learn Something New

4. Eat Healthier and Diet

5. Get Out of Debt and Save Money

6. Spend More Time with Family

7. Travel to New Places

8. Be Less Stressed

9. Volunteer

10. Drink Less

New Year’s resolutions, while easy to make, are also easy to break. Only the few, the 8 percent, persevere. So, below are a few tips that will help you reach your goals this new year.

The Fewer, the Better

It’s tempting to make several resolutions. It seems as though you’d have a better chance of keeping one if many were made. But this is not so. According to Social Psychologist Roy Baumeister, every time you focus on any one of your resolutions, it makes it easier to neglect the others.

Making too many resolutions undermines your success and drains your willpower. So, this year make two or three resolutions. You’ll have a greater chance at keeping them.

Keep It Easy

That’s right. Easy. The purpose of making a New Year’s resolution is not to change your life overnight, or even over the course of 365 days. The purpose is to recognize the necessity of progress and experience personal development.

Therefore, before you commit to run a marathon, consider taking smaller steps first. Perhaps, pledge to jog three times each week. A simple, manageable goal is easier to honor.

Tell a Friend

Before it’s too late, share your New Year’s resolutions with a friend, family member, or colleague. It’s helpful to have a supporting voice hold you accountable.

Celebrate the Milestones

The road to improvement isn’t always easy. It’s an ongoing process filled at times with challenges. It’s critical to reinforce the milestones and celebrate the small victories along the way. It will make goal-setting a more enjoyable process.

I wish you the wisdom to select your New Year’s resolutions well and the perseverance to keep them! May you form good habits and experience success and enjoyment throughout the new year!

Resources:

http://www.statisticbrain.com/new-y…

Lennox, Doug (2007). Now You Know Big Book of Answers one of the amazing thing. Toronto: Dundurn. p. 250.

Julia Jasmine (1998). Multicultural Holidays. Teacher Created Resources. p. 116.

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/a…

http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/resol…

Written by Justin Stephens. Edited by Andrei Duta. This article first appeared in Andrei’s Newsletter.

Friends of Peter (FOP) is a gathering of unique and beautiful individuals with eclectic skills and talents. FOP is many things. FOP is networking with a soul. FOP is a creative ideation forum. FOP is a dynamic group that thrives under the leadership of Peter.

Who is Peter? Two words: SERVANT LEADER. Peter is a servant leader with a golden heart. As such, I can now think of an additional definition of FOP: support group, service community, and network of servant leaders!

I will close by pointing to one of my favorite writers/thinkers: Robert Greenleaf. I believe he did a superb job in capturing the spirit of servant leadership… the spirit of Peter, the spirit of the individual friends of Peter, and, also, the spirit of the collective Friends of Peter:

WHAT IS SERVANT LEADERSHIP?

“Servant leadership is a philosophy and set of practices that enriches the lives of individuals, builds better organizations and ultimately creates a more just and caring world.

While servant leadership is a timeless concept, the phrase “servant leadership” was coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in The Servant as Leader, an essay that he first published in 1970. In that essay, Greenleaf said:
“The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions…The leader-first and the servant-first are two extreme types. Between them there are shadings and blends that are part of the infinite variety of human nature.

“The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant-first to make sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served. The best test, and difficult to administer, is: Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society? Will they benefit or at least not be further deprived?“
A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the “top of the pyramid,”servant leadership is different. The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.”[/blockquote][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Billy Graham is now 94 years-old, and has Parkinson’s disease.

In January, leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon in his honor.

Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson’s disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, ‘We don’t expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you.’ so he agreed.

After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said: “I’m reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century. Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train, when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn’t find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets.

It wasn’t there. He looked in his briefcase but couldn’t find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn’t find it.

“The conductor said, ‘Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry about it.’
“Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket.

“The conductor rushed back and said, ‘Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don’t worry, I know who you are; no problem. You don’t need a ticket. I’m sure you bought one.’

Einstein looked at him and said, “Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going.”

Having said that Billy Graham continued, “See the suit I’m wearing? It’s a brand new suit. My children, and my grandchildren are telling me I’ve gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion. You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I’ll be buried. But when you hear I’m dead, I don’t want you to immediately remember the suit I’m wearing I want you to remember this: “I not only know who I am. I also know where I’m going.” May your troubles be less, your blessings more, and may nothing but happiness come through your door. “Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil – it has no point.”

– Author Unknown

Amen & Peace, my friends

And may each of us have lived our lives so that when our ticket is punched we don’t have to worry about where we are going.

Forget under-promising and over-delivering. Or over-promising and under-delivering. How about letting you “yes” be “yes” and “no” be “no”? Do what you say and say what you do. Let your actions be congruent with your words. Let your words be an accurate reflection of your actions.

A few closing remarks. Language is influence. It can move things and people. Or it can stop them. Words are powerful. They can build relationships and trust. Or they can foster a climate of distrust and unravel relationships. Communication is architectonic. Communication can create the space where dreams and hopes and love flourish. Or it can forge dungeons where dreams, hope, and love whither.

Pay attention to your communication. Measure your words. Think them well before speaking or writing them. Monitor your language.  And, finally, don’t be afraid to make promises. Big promises. And keep them. For your reward will be great. The bigger the promise kept, the greater the reward.

(PROVERBS 24:5, 6; the Message)

Strategy is the art and science of winning. Strategy means outsmarting the competition. Strategy pertains to macro level thinking and planning. How do you get effectively and efficiently from point A to point B?

Strategy comes from the Greek word “strategos” which describes the military strategist or general on the battle field. Strategy pertains to finding and employing necessary and available means towards accomplishing and reaching desired ends.

1. Dwight Eisenhower once said: “Plans are useless. Planning is everything.” What is the meaning of this phrase in terms of strategy? Are plans static? Is planning fluid?

2. Sun Tzu penned in the classic The Art of War: “Every battle is won before it is ever fought.” What is the meaning of this question in terms of wisdom and planning?

3. Stephen Covey encouraged his readers to “begin with the end in mind.” What does it mean in terms of strategic planning?